Mainstream music is certainly changing with every passing year, and no more is this evident than in rap music. The internet has taken the mixtape to a level few thought possible just a few years ago, so to the point that we’re now seeing mixtape tracks becoming chart-topping radio singles. And at the moment, one of the biggest artists to come up in the game purely on the strength of his mixtapes is Canadian rapper, Drake. Starting off his career in showbiz as an actor on the popular Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, Drake has slowly built his reputation in music over the years, collaborating with artists like R&B singer Trey Songz, and most notably Lil’ Wayne. After months of speculation, Drake finally signed with Wayne’s Young Money Records, reportedly receiving a two million-dollar advance. All should be right with the world, but I can’t help but wonder, why even bother with a record deal?

Think about it, Drake currently has the number one mainstream rap song in the country with “Best I Ever Had” (it’s number three overall behind two Black Eyed Peas singles), he’s selling out shows in several major cities, and his affiliation with Lil’ Wayne is certainly a plus in positioning him to be the next artist to completely dominate the mainstream rap landscape. Even AFTER an artist gets a record deal, the likelihood of them attaining that level of success isn’t necessarily high. You could sit around wondering when you’ll start on an album (yeah, I’m lookin’ at you, Bad Boy!!!). You could bust your ass on an album only to see it sit on a shelf (again, what’s up, Diddy?!), etc., etc., etc. So if Drake can become one of the most talked about rappers of the year, sell out major venues, and top the music charts without a deal, again what’s the point? It would seem like Drake had a perfect opportunity to tell the recording industry, “I don’t need you!”.

But now the pressure is on. Drake’s already had to do damage control in light of his recent performance at the BET Awards, not to mention receiving some criticism for his “Best I Ever Had” video essentially being a five-minute ode to D-Cups. But beyond all that, there’s the eventual album. The major label debut that may very well decide his future in mainstream music. Like it or not, there are a lot of people closely watching to see if Drake is really worth all the hype, and I can’t help but wonder how good does this album have to be? He certainly has his fans, but like any artist, he’s got plenty of critics as well. I’ve had my share of discussions with those who are totally unimpressed with him, some even citing that he sounds too much like Lil’ Wayne on some of his tracks. And while I can’t put myself down as a die-hard fan, I’m willing to admit he’s got more than his share of bounce-worthy material. And yeah, as a fellow Canuck, I’m kinda lovin’ the fact that a canadian hip-hop artist is getting this much attention here in the states! But at the end of the day, he’s gotta make the music worth paying for. Us consumers can be a fickle bunch, and as big as Drake is right now, there’s no guarantee that the popularity will translate to record sales. Time will tell, I guess.